Four police personnel were injured in an attack by unidentified miscreants while performing Durga Puja duty in Chitalmari upazila of Bagerhat district on Sunday night.

Police arrested three women in connection with the incident.

The attack took place late Sunday night in front of Amodini’s House Sarbajanin Durga Temple at Hadiarghop village of the upazila.

Prior to the attack, an Ansar member named Md Al Amin, who was on duty at the Puja mandap, came under attack. The miscreants attempted to strangle him to death, police said.

Following the attack, police maintained a constant presence at the Puja mandap to ensure the safety of devotees.

The injured police personnel include Sub-Inspector (SI) Sanjay Mondal, in-charge of Boro Baria Police Camp, Assistant Sub Inspector (ASIs) Akhtar Hossain and Bashir Ahmed and constable Sagar Mallik.

Of them, Sanjay and Akhtar were admitted to Chitalmari Upazila Health Complex while the other two received first aid, according to police.

The three arrested women—Sathi Begum, 45; Panna Begum, 38; and Lavoni Begum, 32—belong to the same family and reside at Hadiarghop village.

Meanwhile, ASI Bashir Ahmed of Boro Baria Police Camp filed a case with Chitalmari Police Station on Monday, naming nine persons, including the three women, and 10 to 12 others unnamed in connection with the attack.

Speaking from the health complex on Tuesday, SI Sanjay said that on Sunday night while the Ansar member was on duty at the temple, a local named Hafiz Sikdar asked him the time.

When Al Amin replied it was 7 pm, Sikdar mysteriously became enraged and attempted to strangle him. Police and army personnel initially arrived at the scene, prompting Sikdar to flee. After they left, Sikdar returned and threatened Al Amin again, he said.

SI Sanjay said that upon receiving news of the threat, he returned to the spot with a security team on duty at the Puja.

Sikdar and several members of his family, including men and women, carried out an attack on them with sharp weapons.

Officer-in-charge of Chitalmari Police Station SM Shahadat Hossain a case was filed on charge of obstructing government officials in the discharge of their duties.

Three arrestees were sent to court and police were trying to arrest the remaining accused, he added.